Making sense

of traditional
Chinese medicine
2
Making sense of traditional Chinese medicine
Why do people choose traditional Chinese medicine? 4
What’s the thinking behind it? 5
What causes illness? 8
How does Chinese herbal medicine help? 8
How does acupuncture work? 10
What is tuina? 11
What is Qi Gung? 11
How can I try TCM? 12
How much will it cost? 13
What happens during a consultation? 13
Can I get TCM on the NHS? 15
How can TCM help with mental health? 15
Does TCM offer other advice about staying healthy? 15
Are Chinese herbs ever dangerous? 19
How long will TCM take to work? 20
Is there any research into mental health and TCM? 21
Can Chinese herbal medicine be used
with Western medicine? 21

Ready-made herbal capsules

Thorowax root formula 22
Tree-peony bark formula 22
Lovage tuber formula 23
Biota seed formula 23
References 24
Useful organisations 24
Further reading and order form 26

3
 Making sense of
traditional Chinese medicine

This booklet provides an introduction to traditional Chinese

medicine for anyone with a personal or professional interest
in coping with mental health difficulties. It looks at Chinese
herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and tuina, and
explains how it can help with problems ranging from panic
attacks to psychosis, how to find a practitioner and what
to expect from a consultation. It also includes information
about some of the herbal preparations that are suitable
for self-medication.

Why do people choose traditional Chinese

medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a holistic healthcare
system that aims to treat the whole person rather than just the
disease. It has been the main medical system used in China for
more than 2,000 years, treating a whole range of conditions.
Its long history testifies to the wealth of wisdom, knowledge
and experience it can offer. No synthetic drugs are used, and
the treatment methods are natural. It aims to rebalance the
body’s energy systems, so that it can heal itself.

People often express concern about certain aspects of Western

medicine – that it treats the symptoms rather than the cause,
produces side effects and has a fragmented approach to health.
TCM seeks to deal with the causes of conditions rather than
just the symptoms, and stresses the importance of diet and
lifestyle. If provided by well-qualified and experienced practitioners,
it’s unlikely to produce any side effects (see page 19).

TCM has a good record in treating chronic conditions in situations

where prolonged use of Western medicine would be a cause
for worry. It’s also shown itself to help some conditions, such
as eczema and pain control, for which Western medicine can
do little other than treating the symptoms.
4
TCM sees mental health as no different from physical health,
since both relate to energy imbalance. This means there’s no
stigma attached to mental health problems, in the way that
there has been in the West. TCM puts the emphasis on restoring
mental health, not on treating mental illness.

What’s the thinking behind it?

TCM uses quite different language to talk about medical
conditions and classifies them quite differently from Western
medicine. (In this booklet, any English terms that would have a
different meaning or significance in Chinese are written with a
capital letter.) What we would regard as a basic commonsense
approach to health and treatment is actually firmly rooted in
our own medical tradition.

TCM sees a much closer relationship between mind and body.

They are seen as influencing each other and being mutually
dependent. The idea of natural balance is fundamental in Chinese
medicine, and the key to good health. When the body functions
well, the mind will also function well, and vice versa. If you are
anxious, for example, your blood pressure will tend to go up; if
you are frightened, your heart beats faster.

The Organs
TCM holds that any mental stimuli will affect various different
body systems. These body systems are each connected to, and
named after, a particular organ. For example, the Heart Organ
will actually include the whole nervous system (and is written with
a capital to distinguish it from the heart itself). Each Organ
system is governed by yin and yang forces and by one of the
Five Elements. These also dictate how the Organs relate to each
other, because they are all interdependent.

5
 Yin and yang
Traditional Chinese medicine stems from Taoism, a Chinese
philosophy. It states that the universe, and everything in it, is
underpinned by two complementary and yet opposing forces,
yin and yang, rather like the mathematical symbols plus and
minus. The sun, day, heat and solid matter come under yang;
the moon, night, cold and emptiness come under yin. They
can be thought of as complementary pairs – one can’t exist
without the other. Although they are opposites, the boundary
between them is fluid and ever changing, in the same way
that day shades into night and night into day. Cosmic order is
considered to be in balance if yin and yang are balanced and
this is just as true for a healthy Organ. TCM aims to rebalance
these complementary and opposing forces, as necessary.

Qi and the body’s energy

TCM thinks of the human body as a dynamic energy system,
in which a particular kind of energy or life force, known as qi,
is created and transformed. It runs through the whole body,
along particular channels called meridians. The free movement
of this energy is vital to good health.

The Five Elements

The Five Elements is a way of understanding the world in terms
of cycles, such as growth and decay. The elements of Wood, Fire,
Earth, Metal and Water are each associated with one of the five
major Organs. Each Organ supports another Organ, but is
controlled by a third. For example, Liver (Wood) supports the Heart
(Fire), but is controlled by the Lung (Metal). If there is something
wrong with this interaction between the Organs, ill-health is
likely to follow. Other parts of the body, such as the eyes, ears,
mouth, nose, and tongue, are each associated with a particular
Organ, and so are our emotions.

6
The Organs
• Liver
Element: Wood.
Supports the Heart (Fire) and is controlled by the Lung (Metal).
Connected with the eyes and tendons.
Emotion: anger.

• Heart
Element: Fire
Supports the Spleen (Earth) and is controlled by the Kidney (Water).
Connected with the tongue and blood.
Emotion: panic.

• Spleen
Element: Earth.
Supports the Lung (Metal) and is controlled by the Liver (Wood).
Connected with the mouth and muscles.
Emotion: pensiveness.

• Lung
Element: Metal.
Supports the Kidney (Water) and is controlled by the Heart (Fire).
Connected with the nose, skin and hair.
Emotion: sadness.

• Kidney
Element: Water.
Supports the Liver (Wood) and is controlled by the Spleen (Earth).
Connected with the ears and bones.
Emotion: fear.

7
 What causes illness?
The body’s energy can be disrupted or blocked if, for instance,
the relationship between the Organs has gone wrong in some
way. This will disturb someone’s natural balance. TCM can
categorise disease according to this disruption:
• Deficiency – when energy supplies are interrupted or depleted.
• Excess – when too much energy has accumulated somewhere.
• Stagnation – when the energy isn’t circulating properly.

Emotional difficulties, a poor diet, injury, viruses, parasites or

stress can all set this off, as can outside forces, such as Wind,
Heat, Cold, Dampness, Dryness and Summer Heat. So, someone
might be described as developing the symptoms of a cold because
they have ‘Cold and Wind in the Lungs’. TCM believes that it’s
not possible for someone whose energy is harmonious to become
ill, and for this reason not everyone exposed to a cold virus will
succumb to it.

There are three common methods of restoring the body to health:

• herbal medicine
• acupuncture and moxibustion
• tuina (Chinese medical deep massage).

How does Chinese herbal medicine help?

Usually, practitioners will prescribe a mixture of different herbs.
For example, eczema can be a symptom of the body having too
much Heat and Damp. It may call for a mixture of herbs that are
Cool and Dry by nature, to counteract this. These herbal mixtures
are based on tried and tested formulae from medical books that
date back over hundreds of years.

8
Every herb has its own characteristics and effects, and combining
different herbs helps to increase their potency and minimise any
unwanted consequences. Rather like a football team working
together to strike, defend and score goals, the herbs work
together to achieve maximum benefit for clients. The basic
formulae are often modified slightly according to the person
concerned and their problem.

Herbs can come in a dried form, or as herbal capsules, tablets,

ointments and creams. Dry herbs are available only on prescription,
from a practitioner. They are more powerful than capsules or
tablets, but are often more expensive. They are also more
time-consuming to use, because they need to be brewed into
drinks. The resulting brew may well taste rather bitter, because
most herbs are derived from roots, tubers or tree bark and the
stems of plants, flowers or seeds.

Practitioners will often prescribe dry herbs first, because of their

potency. Once the condition they are treating improves or
stabilises, capsules or tablets can be used, instead. Because they
are so powerful, long-term repeated prescriptions of dry herbs
can be harmful. Practitioners often change the formula, after a
while, to maximise the benefits and minimise any risks.

People are sometimes concerned about animal products being

used in traditional Chinese medicine. Some treatment programmes
do include such products for their medicinal properties, but the
majority of remedies use only plant materials. Chinese herbal
medicine should not contain any endangered species, and this
is, in any case, illegal in Britain.

9
 How does acupuncture work?
This takes the form of inserting very fine needles into the body’s
energy lines, or meridians. There are 14 major meridians in the
human body, 12 of which are dominated by the major Organs.
Each of these links energy points across the whole body, which
are all related.

The needles are inserted at special points on the meridians, where

the energy can be regulated. It may be helpful to think of this
in terms of the electricity supply to a room. The meridians are
the wiring, the acupuncture points are the light switches, dimmers
and fuses, and the Organs are the electrical appliances.
Practitioners will choose a combination of points to achieve the
desired effect. The choice is guided by long-standing formulae,
modified to suit each individual and problem.

Needles come in different lengths, which are chosen according

to where they go and what they are treating. They are always
sterilised and often disposable, and so perfectly safe. The
practitioner may use from 5 to 15 needles, leaving them in place
for just a few minutes or for up to half-an-hour. When the needles
are inserted correctly, they cause a sensation known as ‘de qi’,
which is a slight tingling, heaviness or numbness at or around
the needles. This is a sign that the needle is working on the
energy channel and that the Organ is being properly stimulated.
Acupuncture should not be painful, however. Indeed, the
experience can produce a deep sense of relaxation that promotes
a general feeling of wellbeing.

It’s also possible to have a modern variation of acupuncture,

using magnets, small amounts of electricity or even lasers to
stimulate the energy points. These may or may not also involve
using needles. Ear acupuncture is another new departure in the
field, used to help treat problems with addiction, for instance.
10
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional alternative to acupuncture. It involves
burning a cigar-shaped block of the herb moxa (common name
ragwort) and placing it as close as possible to an energy point,
without burning the skin. It’s preferable to ordinary acupuncture
for pregnant women, young children or anyone who is afraid
of needles.

What is tuina?
Tuina is a medical form of deep massage meaning, literally, ‘push
and grab’. Again, it involves targeting the energy channels and
points. Although the treatment is less invasive than acupuncture,
the manipulation can be strong when the condition under
treatment requires it.

It’s possible to treat yourself for simple problems, such as a

headache, by applying gentle pressure on the correct points.

What is Qi Gung?
Qi Gung (‘gung’ meaning exercise) is a way of training people
to harness and focus the energy flow in their body to achieve
an enhanced state of body and mind. Those who practise it as
a martial art say they can protect themselves from injury by
summoning and moving qi around the body.

This form of exercise can be used as a therapy in its own right

or combined with another treatment method. It can help with
healing because the energy systems are better organised, to
the benefit of mind and body. However, Qi Gung is not usually
considered appropriate for helping with mental health problems.
If practised wrongly, it can cause harm and make the condition
worse. It should always be undertaken with the help of a suitable
teacher.

11
 Tai Chi
Tai Chi (meaning ‘the ultimate energy’) is one of the most
common forms of Qi Gung, and its origins lie in the religious
beliefs of Taoism. It exercises the energy system through slow
but highly regulated movements of the body. A formal class of
Tai Chi may take between an hour and an hour-and-a-half each
time. For the best results, it’s essential to practise three times a
week (but not necessarily in formal classes).

How can I try TCM?

There is a limited range of TCM herbal remedies that are suitable
for self-medication. A list of commonly used and safe formulae
can be found on p. 22. However, obtaining them can be difficult,
because only a few pharmacies stock them. It’s important not
to use any dry herbs without consulting a practitioner, as they
are powerful and can be harmful when used inappropriately.

As yet, there are no statutory regulations to cover practitioners

of traditional Chinese medicine. There are some self-regulating
bodies, which guarantee certain minimum standards. (For more
information, see Useful organisations, on p. 24.)

Always check exactly what kind of training and experience a

practitioner has. You should look for someone who has been
educated to degree or equivalent level, and who has at least
five years’ experience of TCM practice. Those trained in China
will have completed a full-time, five-year medical training
programme, and will have practiced in a hospital. A properly
trained practitioner will have a thorough knowledge of the theory
and practice of herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and
tuina. They would also have some basic training in Qi Gung.
They will choose the most appropriate method for your condition
– most commonly herbal medicine and acupuncture.

12
It’s now been estimated that there are at least 3,000 Chinese
medicine shops operating in high streets across the UK. The staff
may be qualified TCM practitioners, or they may not. They are
under no obligation to be members of professional bodies or
to be covered by professional insurance, although many do have
this kind of cover. This means it is very important to check up
on the qualifications of anyone whose advice you are seeking.

How much will it cost?

Fees vary according to the area, the practice, and the treatment.
As a rough guide, in a general TCM clinic, a consultation followed
by a week’s worth of dry herbs can range from £30 to £50. A
consultation followed by acupuncture, tuina or moxibustion might
cost between £20 and £40. There are some specialist clinics
whose fees may be higher, but these are few and far between.
Over-the-counter remedies are usually from £5 to £8 a bottle,
which will last for just over a week.

What happens during a consultation?

A consultation usually takes about half-an-hour and the
practitioner may use various methods for diagnosing your
problems.

Observation
The practitioner may scrutinise your complexion, eyes, tongue,
and movements to gain insight into how your Organs are
functioning. The tongue is a particularly important source of
information, and its colour, body, coating, and moisture will all
be taken into account.

13
 Feeling and listening
The practitioner ‘feels’ the patient’s energy and atmosphere by
detecting smell and using other senses to gain an insight into
a complaint. Sometimes, this could involve touch.

Taking a history
To gain a full picture, the practitioner will ask detailed questions
about your complaint and your medical history. He or she will
want to find out whether your problems vary at all according
to the time of year and your diet, feelings or emotions.

Pulse diagnosis
This can provide a highly sensitive and detailed picture of your
general health. The practitioner will be taking a number of
different ‘pulses’ on three fingers of each hand. This enables
him or her to gain further information about the quality and
functioning of the five major Organs. The practitioner will take
account of your general health and strength, as well as all of
your symptoms, whether they seem to you to be connected or
not. This will be the basis for deciding on the best treatment.

Number of sessions
Western medicine often maintains the same course of treatment
over a number of years. In contrast, TCM requires frequent
follow-up sessions, especially to begin with, to modify the
treatment as you respond to it. You may need a consultation
every week or fortnight for the first few weeks, at least. After
six or eight weeks, it may be appropriate to change to ready-made
herbal tablets or capsules. Further sessions should be much less
frequent, and may not be necessary at all.

14
Can I get TCM on the NHS?
It is possible to find a very limited range of TCM services on the
NHS. Many NHS pain clinics offer acupuncture. However, this is
usually provided by doctors, nurses or physiotherapists with some
training in acupuncture, rather than by fully trained TCM
practitioners. While they may be able to treat relatively simple
complaints, their training and experience may be insufficient to
treat more complex cases. Hospital doctors may sometimes refer
patients to see TCM practitioners, but this happens only rarely,
on a one-off basis, and the NHS will not pay for it.

A small number of GPs now have TCM practitioners attached

to their surgeries, although they can’t refer patients to them,
as such. This is a private arrangement and the patients have to
pay fees. But treating patients under the same roof in this way
means that Western medicine and TCM can be combined, in
appropriate circumstances, for maximum benefit to the patient.

How can TCM help with mental health?

TCM recognises five broad types of mental-health problem:
• depression
• insomnia
• panic attacks
• manic depression
• psychosis
It’s possible for very different causes to produce symptoms of
these mental health problems, and so they can require quite
different approaches. Practitioners may also vary in their choice
of treatment, according to the person, the particular circumstances
and the range of symptoms, but it may be along any of the
following lines.

15
 Depression
Depression may be regarded as a Liver Stagnation syndrome.
TCM believes that the Liver system has a particular role in
governing emotions. Unresolved problems in work and daily
lives may result in unhappiness, causing malfunctioning of the
Liver and particularly of its qi (energy), which can then lead to
depression. The two most common causes of this Stagnation
are a blockage of the energy channel and a malfunctioning of
the Organs involved in mobilising qi. In women, this may lead
to irregular periods, PMT or pain before or during a period.

The treatment for depression therefore focuses on revitalising

the Liver qi. The common herbs used are thorowax root, curcuma
root and albizzia bark. (See p. 22, for more information.)
Acupuncture can also be effective in mobilising the Liver qi.

Insomnia, panic attacks or manic depression

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this group of mental
health problems can come from a malfunctioning of the Heart
(the Organ that includes the nervous system). This may be due
to mental overload, or to a weak constitution following a long
illness. As a result, the Heart can become Deficient. When the
Heart is undernourished, it causes problems such as panic attacks
and manic depression.

The Heart is also closely involved in sleep. If blood in the Heart

system is Deficient in some way, this may cause insomnia,
frequent night waking or difficulty in getting back to sleep. In
some people, blood deficiencies can result in palpitations, or
both insomnia and palpitations. These may also be responsible
for memory problems.

16
Treatment would normally focus on nourishing the Heart and
calming the spirit. The common herbs used are lilyturf root,
Chinese senega root and jujube fruit. (See p. 22, for more
information.) There are also acupuncture points used to help
with nourishing the Heart.

Insomnia and panic attacks

These problems can be associated with Heart and Kidney yin
Deficiency. Too much hard work, physically and mentally, can
be the cause. The balance of yin and yang become disrupted
and the excessive yang affects the Heart, causing insomnia and
panic attack. Treatment would concentrate on replenishing the
yin, by using herbs such as wolferry seed, wild jujube seed and
anemarrhena tuber. (See p. 22, for more information.) Acupuncture
points can be utilised to redress the balance of yin and yang.

Insomnia, panic attack and psychosis

Phlegm can mean more than a build up of mucous in the nose
and throat. Phlegm Heat can accumulate in the body over time,
as a result of alcohol abuse or dietary imbalance. Heat, once
formed, can disrupt the Heart, causing a range of problems,
including insomnia, panic attacks and psychosis. Herbs that clear
Heat and dissolve Phlegm include mandarin peel, tabasheer of
bamboo and lotus plumule. (See p. 22, for more information.)
Acupuncture could also be employed.

17
 Psychosis
TCM believes that one common cause of psychosis is a
combination of Liver qi Stagnation and the formation of Phlegm
that blocks energy channels in the body. Together, they cause
a malfunctioning of the Heart. The channels in themselves are
normal, but are blocked by the Phlegm. The aim of TCM would
be to revitalise qi and dissolve Phlegm, possibly using immature
bitter orange and processed pinnellia tuber. Selected acupuncture
points on the Liver, Stomach and Heart meridians should, together,
mobilise the qi and dissolve Phlegm.

Does TCM offer other advice about staying

healthy?
TCM stresses the importance of a good diet and of supplements,
if necessary, for the benefit of mental health. It suggests several
ways in which people can help themselves, and also believes
that some form of guidance or counselling may be appropriate,
in some cases, to help strengthen a patient’s reserves and maintain
a positive outlook on life. Learning some simple relaxation
techniques is also regarded as helpful in getting people to unwind.

Regular and gentle sport is seen as good for recovery. It’s important
that this should be something that suits the individual, and which
they can stick to. Examples might include jogging or going for
a walk, or a regular Tai Chi session, which is both a form of
meditation and a relaxation exercise. TCM favours a simple
life-style, whenever possible, and is an advocate of the healing
power of nature. Regular walks in the countryside, for example,
and a daily routine of eating healthily and getting enough sleep
are advocated. It also recommends avoiding nightlife, especially
for conditions caused by undernourishment of the Heart.

18
Diet
A practitioner can develop an individual dietary programme
especially for you. In general, however, TCM recommends that
people should avoid, for instance:
• oily and spicy food, cigarettes and alcohol
• dairy products and too much meat, if the condition is caused
by Phlegm
• too much cold or iced food, if the condition is caused by
Stagnation of the Liver
• mutton and seafood, in conditions caused by Heat
• tea and coffee in cases of insomnia.

Are Chinese herbs ever dangerous?

During the last few years, there have been reported cases of
kidney failure in Belgium and in Britain in connection with the
use of Chinese herbal medicine. This was due to two herbs being
contaminated, at source, by toxic varieties from the same plant
families. The now-banned herbs are tetrandra root and akebia,
which are, of themselves, perfectly safe. There have also been
some reports of shops passing off Western steroid cream as
Chinese herbal cream. For this reason, it’s important to consult
a qualified practitioner.

Traditional Chinese herbs can be as powerful as Western

medicines, and should be treated with just as much respect or
caution. Any medicine may be harmful, if used in the wrong way.

19
 How long will TCM take to work?
Chinese herbal medicine is designed to eliminate the toxins in
your body. Toxins are anything that that body doesn’t need or
which might do you harm, such as a virus. To begin with, you
may feel worse rather than better, although this will depend
on how many toxins are present. As the herbs start to work,
symptoms may temporarily worsen, in some people. This is why
weekly or fortnightly consultations are advisable, so that the
practitioner can monitor progress closely.

Chinese medicine is a natural therapy, which tackles the causes

rather than the symptoms. In general, it works more slowly than
orthodox Western medicine. Progress also depends on how serious
the condition is.

For stress, depression, migraine or insomnia, you should feel

an improvement after one course of treatment, which usually
means four weekly sessions. Severe and chronic problems, such
as schizophrenia, are harder to treat and the outcome also tends
to be less good. But, a patient using antipsychotic drugs to
control their symptoms may nonetheless find Chinese herbal
medicine helpful in alleviating the drug’s side effects.

20
Is there any research into mental health and
TCM?
There has been very little research, in the West, into the effects
of TCM on mental health. However, more and more research is
now being done into its success in treating physiological problems.

Some research about mental health has been published in China,

but this does not meet standard Western research criteria. Taken
together, however, it points to some promising results, which
may be worth further research. It suggests that some Chinese
herbal medicine formulas have been beneficial in treating
schizophrenia and in alleviating the side effects of psychotic drugs.
Acupuncture was also reported to alleviate the symptoms of
dementia.

Can Chinese herbal medicine be used with

Western medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine and Western medicine are routinely used
together in China. In fact, it’s rare to find a hospital in China
that does not use both together in some form. The two kinds
of medicine are structurally different chemically, one natural, the
other synthetic, so they are broken down by different enzymes
in the body.

If you are using both at the same time, try to leave a two-hour
gap in between each intake to ensure that your body responds
to them well.

21
 Ready-made herbal capsules

It’s possible to buy some herbal remedies over the counter, in

capsule form. Some of those available are listed below. The
capsules are herbal combinations based on well-known formulae.
However, since the capsules are less potent than dry herbs, they
are only able to deal with relatively mild mental health conditions.

As with any self-medication, it’s important to exercise caution.

If you have a cold, or flu, always stop the remedies until you
recover, as your constitution changes and the herbs will not be
effective. If you develop a reaction, contact the supplier as soon
as possible. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should never use
any remedy without talking to their doctor or a fully qualified
practitioner.

Thorowax root formula

This is useful for stress and depression, irregular periods,
premenstrual tension and period pain. It contains thorowax
root, field mint, Chinese angelica root, white peony root, white
atractylodes, tuckahoe, licorice root and ginger. For depression,
take the capsule for up to two or three months. For stress, take
until the condition subsides.

Tree-peony bark formula

Used for treating premenstrual tension, depression, and conditions
that result from Liver Stagnation and getting too hot. This
condition may directly affect periods. These conditions are Heat
related, and women in particular may experience irritability and
anxiety as a result. The formula contains tree peony bark, gardenia
fruit, thorowax root, field mint, Chinese angelica root, white
peony root, white atractylodes, tuckahoe, licorice root and ginger.
For depression with anxiety and irritability, it should be taken
for between two weeks and three months. For best results, people
should avoid oily, highly spiced food, which can cause a build
up of Heat in the body.
22
Lovage tuber formula
This may be taken for unexplained headache or migraine. It rids
the meridians of Wind invasion, a major cause of headache. In
recent years, there have been a good number of clinical reports
confirming how useful this formula is. It contains lovage tuber,
notopterygium root, dahurian angelica root, ledebouriella root,
schizonepeta, field mint, licorice root and wild ginger. It should
be started as soon as a headache begins. The earlier it’s taken,
the better. It can be continued for up to two weeks. This regime
should be repeated when the next attack comes. It should
gradually help reduce the number of attacks.

‘It possesses a calming effect on the central nervous system.’

Chinese materia medica (1998)

Biota seed formula

Used for treating insomnia and palpitations, the formula works
by strengthening the Heart, which is seen as the cause of the
problem, not by targeting the nervous system. It does not affect
performance, has no known side effects and does not lead to
any kind of dependency. It contains raw rehmannia root, Chinese
angelica root, red sage root, figwort root, lilyturf root, asparagus
root, biota seed, wild jujube seed, tuckahoe, schizandra root,
Chinese senega root, codonopsis root, sweet flag rhizome,
curcuma root and balloon flower root. To feel the benefit, take
it for seven to ten days, in the first instance. Continue taking it
for three to six months to clear up the condition.

‘The component of fatty oil in Biota can lubricate the bowel and
ease bowel movement. Biota seed tranquillises the mind by
nourishing the Heart, relaxing the bowels to relieve constipation.’
Chinese materia medica (1998)

23
 References

Chinese materia medica D. Bensky, A. Gamble (Revised Edition)

(Eastland Press 1998)
‘A report on using Chinese medicine to treat 40 cases of
sexual disorder as side effects of antipsychotic drugs’ Y. H.
Wang (Journal of TCM 1989, 9, 4, 32–33) (in Chinese)
‘Using acupuncture to treat dementia’ (World Journal of
Acupuncture and Moxibustion 1998, 8, 4, 7–11) (in Chinese).
Reviewed in: Acupuncture in medicine 1999, 17, 1 (in English)
‘Using Chinese medicine to treat 48 cases of Schizophrenia’ Y.
H. Wang, L. Ma (Beijing Journal of TCM 1997, 1, 11) (in
Chinese)
Service for patients with pain Clinic Standards Advisory Group
(Department of Health 1999)

Useful organisations
Mind
Mind is the leading mental health organisation in England and
Wales, providing a unique range of services through its local
associations, to enable people with experience of mental distress
to have a better quality of life. For more information about any
mental health issues, including details of your nearest local Mind
association, contact the Mind website: www.mind.org.uk or
MindinfoLine on 0845 766 0163

British Acupuncture Council

63 Jeddo Road, London W12 9HQ
tel. 020 8735 0400, fax: 020 8735 0404
email: info@acupuncture.org.uk web: www.acupuncture.org.uk
The UK's main regulatory body for the practice of acupuncture

24
British Register of Complementary Practitioners
PO Box 194, London SE16 7QZ
tel. 020 7237 5165, fax: 020 7237 5175
email: info@i-c-m.org.uk web: www.i-c-m.org.uk
Information about complementary medicine practitioners
including TCM practitioners

College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

19 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7SB
tel. 0118 950 8889, fax: 0118 950 8890
email: admin@cicm.org.uk web: www.cicm.org.uk
Offers training and treatment

Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM)

Office 5, 1 Exeter Street, Norwich NR2 4QB
tel. 01603 623 994, fax: 01603 667 557
email: herbmed@rchm.co.uk web: www.rchm.co.uk
For details of qualified practitioners, bound by codes of ethics
and good practice, with full professional insurance

TCM HealthCare
101 Bulwer Road, London E11 1BU
tel. 0208 429 8468, email: herb@tcm-healthcare.co.uk
web: www.tcm-healthcare.co.uk
Information about TCM practitioners based at GP surgeries in
London

25
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26
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Mind works for a better life for everyone
with experience of mental distress
Mind does this by:
• advancing the views, needs and ambitions of people with
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This booklet was written by Shun Au and Prof. Yang Li

First published by Mind 2001. Revised edition © Mind 2004

ISBN 1-903567-12-2
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